Hopefully, our overall odds are going to be better than 1 in 3.22 though their odds for a top prize win is better than our $20 game. I like how they itemize the different prize scenarios for each dollar amount.

Just realized their top prize is $1 million, our new game will have higher top prizes than PA.

Took a pic of the odds. Disappointed over the 2,400,000 to 1 odds for GP. Seems to high for a $10 game.

Probably will take a pass on this one. Does anyone play these games for something other than the GP? Payback is listed at 73%.

Thanks for posting this. Since the overall odds is 1 in 3.50, I assumed the odds throughout would be the same as California Gold. It's not.

This is the first $10 non-LFL style game with top prize odds in excess of 1 in 1,200,000. I hope this isn't a precursor to future $10 games. Not sure how this game will fare. I was looking forward to this series, but not so much anymore.

Took a pic of the odds. Disappointed over the 2,400,000 to 1 odds for GP. Seems to high for a $10 game.

Probably will take a pass on this one. Does anyone play these games for something other than the GP? Payback is listed at 73%.

Much appreciated for posting up the odds for Wheel of Fortune $10 game and it is a different payout structure than the CA Gold. It is essentially 1/2 of the top prize jackpot taken and distributing over the more common TICKET to $200 prizes. I will play this game since you'll get more of your money back while playing over the lifetime of the game.

Not sure for the reason of dislike. 1 in 1.2 million is improbable odds, what difference does 1 in 2.4 million (this game) or 1 in 3.6 million (Lucky Life) make? It is all dumb luck.

I think CA Scratchers are going backwards. They are doing things that are more annoying in that they make it harder to enter 2nd Chance codes even though they advertise it as a big deal, they have fewer Top Prizes, they have large runs of dead tickets in the $20 rolls, they have irritating things like both a Free Ticket and a $10 winner on $10 games even though they are essentially the same thing. The list keeps getting longer. There really is no buzz.

I was talking with the main retailer I buy most of my Scratchers from and he was laughing at how they are already going to start pulling Black and Gold from the bins. All the hoopla and advertising for Black he said was a waste of time because the game was a dud. He said Gold was even worse. Ugly game, boring theme. He has hopes for Wheel of Fortune but he has seen a steady decline in Scratcher purchases. He absolutely hates the $20 game and has watched hundreds of people just get whacked on it. He had one guy come in and buy a roll and the best prize he got was a $50 winner. The guy almost had a meltdown.

Much appreciated for posting up the odds for Wheel of Fortune $10 game and it is a different payout structure than the CA Gold. It is essentially 1/2 of the top prize jackpot taken and distributing over the more common TICKET to $200 prizes. I will play this game since you'll get more of your money back while playing over the lifetime of the game.

Not sure for the reason of dislike. 1 in 1.2 million is improbable odds, what difference does 1 in 2.4 million (this game) or 1 in 3.6 million (Lucky Life) make? It is all dumb luck.

I will play this game since you'll get more of your money back while playing over the lifetime of the game.

For every $100 spent on the $10 Wheel of Fortune game, how much more do you expect, on average, to win back over California Gold's payout schedule?

Much appreciated for posting up the odds for Wheel of Fortune $10 game and it is a different payout structure than the CA Gold. It is essentially 1/2 of the top prize jackpot taken and distributing over the more common TICKET to $200 prizes. I will play this game since you'll get more of your money back while playing over the lifetime of the game.

Not sure for the reason of dislike. 1 in 1.2 million is improbable odds, what difference does 1 in 2.4 million (this game) or 1 in 3.6 million (Lucky Life) make? It is all dumb luck.

Agree with you about the luck part. But the only reason I play scratchers is to chase the GP. I mean, when I'm playing scratchers losing 30-50% is the norm for me, as I expect it is for most every other player. Why would anyone put up with that type of loss most of the time except for the slim hope of a big payoff. Even though the difference between 2.4 and 1.2 million to one is miniscule, given the size of the odds, I still prefer the latter one.

I will play this game since you'll get more of your money back while playing over the lifetime of the game.

For every $100 spent on the $10 Wheel of Fortune game, how much more do you expect, on average, to win back over California Gold's payout schedule?

Hard to answer exactly without Jon's spreadsheet calculations, but I am not trying to be nitty gritty about the ROI per $100 purchase, it is more of a concept of volatility. Generally, the more your play, the more chances you have in winning the top prize. Bankroll is a limiting factor to a person's ability to play quantity wise so you have to hit the lower wins more frequent to keep you in the game, high volatility games (like Set for Life [before Lucky for Life or Lucky Life] or the $20 game) will carry high element of risk that your bankroll will disappear. This Wheel of Fortune game narrows the $50 or $100 (5 or 10 ticket) gaps.

CA Gold

1 in 17 for TICKET

1 in 10 for $15

1 in 14 for $20

1 in 38 for $25

1 in 62 for $50

1 in 93 for $100

1 in 659 for $200

[Note: 1 in 16000 for $1000]

Wheel of Fortune

1 in 17 for TICKET

1 in 10 for $15

1 in 17 for $20

1 in 36 for $25

1 in 44 for $50

1 in 71 for $100

1 in 774 for $200

[Note: 1 in 24000 for $1000]

As far as the pursuit of the Top Prize goes, I've stated before as a long time player, the best chances of winning are through the 2nd Chance End of Game Draw despite just 1 winner will be chosen, being able to play longer will yield in more second chance entries. As a scratcher player, nothing will ever beat the thrill of scratching off a the number and prize to reveal the GP amount on a ticket, but realistically the situation requires the player to be at the right place at the right time.

Agree with you about the luck part. But the only reason I play scratchers is to chase the GP. I mean, when I'm playing scratchers losing 30-50% is the norm for me, as I expect it is for most every other player. Why would anyone put up with that type of loss most of the time except for the slim hope of a big payoff. Even though the difference between 2.4 and 1.2 million to one is miniscule, given the size of the odds, I still prefer the latter one.

I also play Scratchers as well as some lottery games (Fantasy 5, Mega Millions or Powerball when the 5/5 prize is high) to pursue wins of $100k and above. Comes with high edge since a good portion goes to education, but there is no other entity that offers a grand prize payout which could be life altering. 2nd Chance drawings is by far the best odds of winning $1 Million prize.

Tribal casinos and Vegas is the solution for those looking to win a few hundred or few thousand dollars.

I think CA Scratchers are going backwards. They are doing things that are more annoying in that they make it harder to enter 2nd Chance codes even though they advertise it as a big deal, they have fewer Top Prizes, they have large runs of dead tickets in the $20 rolls, they have irritating things like both a Free Ticket and a $10 winner on $10 games even though they are essentially the same thing. The list keeps getting longer. There really is no buzz.

I was talking with the main retailer I buy most of my Scratchers from and he was laughing at how they are already going to start pulling Black and Gold from the bins. All the hoopla and advertising for Black he said was a waste of time because the game was a dud. He said Gold was even worse. Ugly game, boring theme. He has hopes for Wheel of Fortune but he has seen a steady decline in Scratcher purchases. He absolutely hates the $20 game and has watched hundreds of people just get whacked on it. He had one guy come in and buy a roll and the best prize he got was a $50 winner. The guy almost had a meltdown.

CA Scratchers was picking up momentum in 2009 AB142, I have not bought much scratchers as of late either but I have to totally agree that CA Lottery are dropping the ball.

1. Entering the first 13 digits rather than all the digits (but if fewer people enter because of its tedious, the better)

2. Dead ticket runs of 6 or more tickets for a 1 in 2.89 odds game is not acceptable, especially when most of the "winning" tickets are break even ones

3. Less Top prizes, used to be 1 in 480,000 or 600,000 back in the days. Now its 1 in 1.2 million or 2.4 million

4. Never understood the $10 game payout, it essentially pays $5 game payouts with $1 Million GP. Thought it would be easier to win $1000 or $5000 but its even tougher than the $5 game.

I also think people are starting to realize how much money they've lost. People who have won $500 on their first or second $20 ticket purchase probably lost it all playing thinking that $500 was easy to win. I think the AB142 initially caught appeal as it was more possible to win $50 from a ticket, now I think that hype is dead.

Looks like another 5MJ GP was claimed (#8) in the Winners Stories section on the CALottery website.

The Available Prize table for the 5MJ page doesn't seem to be updated though.

Red Bluff was the location of the winner based on the website, a Northern California city of 14,000 with a $30k median household income. Not sure if anyone would have thought the ticket would be located in such an area.